Why is Your Veterinarian Fascinated with Pets Feces?

Sleuth the Reporter Dog works hard to make sure he stays healthy, but he also knows that his health could have a direct impact on the health of his whole, human family. So, when Sleuth’s veterinarian asks for a fecal sample, he obviously obliges. Here’s what Sleuth has found out about why veterinarians will check stool specimens so frequently.

1) It’s not a fun or even appetizing topic to discuss, but veterinarians do need to check fecal samples from your pets. We are looking for hookworms, whipworms, roundworms or even protozoan parasites, such as giardia or coccidia.

2) Some people will say that their pets are fine and don’t need this important test, but the fact is that these parasites are often microscopic. In addition, we don’t look for the whole adult worm in the feces, but rather the eggs that are shed. This is where the true problem lies!

3) Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Controls reports that several thousand people are checked for roundworm and hookworm infestation every year. The most common source of these worms is our pets!

4) Most puppies and kittens are born with intestinal parasites, but even adult animals can pick up these nasty worms from the yard, the dog park, potting soil or from our hands and feet if we have been working in the yard or garden!

5) Nationwide, more than 36% of dogs are harboring at least one of these parasites. In some regions, for example, the southeastern US, the percentage actually tops 50%! That’s more than half of our canine friends spreading potential disease to our families.

6) A single female roundworm or hookworm can shed more than 100,000 eggs into the environment every day! Think of how many eggs are being deposited from a litter of puppies where every pup has more than one worm! The numbers are staggering!

7) The short life cycle of these parasites and the potential to infect our families means that veterinarians must be vigilant. The CDC, the Companion Animal Parasite Council and the American Animal Hospital Association all recommend regular fecal exams for our pets.

8) For most owners, we will ask for a sample just once or twice per year. But, if your pet is not on heartworm prevention, we may need to check the pet’s feces every other month!

9) From your pet to your whole family, we are focused on keeping everyone healthy! Ask us about the best way to keep these nasty worms away from your four-legged friends!

10) Sites like MyVNN.com can provide you with accurate and unbiased pet health information.

Why Are Veterinarians Fascinated with Pets’ Feces?

Whether your veterinarian calls it a “fecal sample” or “stool specimen”, pet owners often wonder why their animal doctors have such a fascination with something that should be left in the backyard or litter box. As it turns out, checking your pets’ feces just might keep the people in your family from getting seriously sick!

It might be the look on the person’s face or maybe the way they are carrying the bag, but staff at a veterinary office can always tell when their clients arrive with a stool sample for testing. Dozens of specimens arrive each day, some in Ziploc baggies, others triple wrapped in aluminum foil and some are tucked neatly in plastic containers. The clients may not realize it, but that smelly sample brought in for testing may help prevent an illness in their pet…or in them!

Why does your veterinarian have such an interest in your pet’s stool?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) state that 3,000 to 4,000 human serum samples are sent to their labs every year with a presumptive diagnosis of toxocariasis, or, infection with roundworms or hookworms. The illnesses caused by these parasites are not reportable in the United States, so true numbers of human cases are not known. What is known is that 36% of dogs across the country and 52% in the southeastern states carry these zoonotic worms. Many pet owners are unaware that their furry family members are capable of harboring these parasites.

Some clients don’t believe that their pet could have worms. But, pets can come into contact with these parasites in the yard, in potting soil, at the dog park or even on our hands or feet after we come inside from working in the garden or after taking a walk. The larva and eggs of these parasites are simply abundant in many places.

In fact, a single female worm can shed more than 100,000 eggs per day and most puppies and kittens are infected with more than just one worm! That’s millions of eggs spreading through areas where dogs and cats go to defecate. Pets infected with a protozoan parasite, like coccidia or giardia, can shed over a billion cysts each and every day!

So, what does your veterinarian do with the sample you brought Most people understand that veterinarians are checking fecals as a means to find intestinal parasites, more commonly known as “worms”. What is less well known is that the veterinarian is not looking for whole adult parasites. They are looking for microscopic eggs and protozoans that may inhabit your pet.

First, the feces are mixed with a sugar or salt solution, a liquid that is slightly denser than regular tap water. Breaking up the stool allows any infective eggs to enter the solution. Next, the mixture is carefully poured into conical tubes that are placed in a centrifuge. The spinning action helps separate the organic debris of the feces from the parasites and the parasite eggs.

After about 10 minutes, the suspension is then allowed to sit with a microscope coverslip placed on top. The eggs and most parasites will float to the top and adhere to the coverslip. A veterinary technician or assistant can then take this sample and review it under a microscope. Any positive specimens are discussed with the veterinarian and an appropriate deworming medication can be prescribed.

This process may not sound appetizing to most readers, but these tests are an important part of a veterinarian’s dedication to your pets, but also to public health as a whole. The CDC, the Companion Animal Parasite Council and the American Animal Hospital Association all recommend regular fecal testing for all pets. This means you can expect to package up a stool sample once or twice each year per pet. If your pets aren’t on monthly heartworm prevention, your veterinarian may ask for a sample every 1-2 months!

To learn more about how veterinarians are working hard to keep your pet’s healthy, visit your veterinarian’s website or www.MyVNN.com.